A year later, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says that handling death of Jerry Brown Jr. ranks among his toughest days in his 25 seasons

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (right) leaves Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship following a memorial service for player Jerry Brown Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at the church in Dallas. (G.J. McCarthy/The Dallas Morning News)

Jerry Jones said this week that what he went through one year ago today ranks among the toughest days in his 25 seasons of owning the Dallas Cowboys.

Jones had to help guide players and coaches through a tragedy. A year ago, Cowboys practice squad linebacker Jerry Brown Jr. died in a one-car crash in Irving. The car was driven by Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent, who, according to accident reports, was intoxicated.

“From the standpoint of Josh and of course the loss of Jerry and his family, the standpoint of the dynamics of that was his best friend — and [the Brown] family thanks and loves Josh — we haven’t had anything with these different kinds of dimensions that we have in this situation,” Jones said. “Certainly we’ve continued to every way we can to support Josh and he certainly has some tough times ahead of him and we’re still being a family for him and that’s important I think. As much as anything, I’m driven by Jerry’s mother in that effort.”

Stacey Jackson, Brown’s mother, asked the Cowboys to support Brent in every way after the accident.

Jones said he often checks in on Brent, who retired from the NFL before the season. Jones said he last talked to Brent three weeks ago. Brent’s intoxication manslaughter trial is set for Jan. 8. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

“I wouldn’t say he’s doing better,” Jones said. “He still grieves and has the remorse of the accident. He knows his life will never be the same. He understands that he has a lot ahead of him here.”

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